Replacing Sway Bar Bushings
#1
Replacing Sway Bar Bushings
Can anyone tell me how difficult it is to replace the front sway bar bushings yourself? I have never worked on suspension parts before, but am mechanically inclined and capable. My local reparir shop wants $67.00 plus parts to replace them, and I am wondering if it's worth it to do myself and get familiar with the front suspension since I will probably have to replace them more than once during the life I own the car. Any advice or pictures of the process would be greatly appreciated.
#2
the sway bar runs across the top of the k-frame. i saw mine up on the hoist when haldimand did my sway bushings. the mechanic said a couple of the bolts were hard to access. not an easy task with the car on ramps in your driveway but not impossible. you just have to hold your tounge the right way.
#6
Wheel, I did it myself. Here are the instructions:
1. Jack the car on the front, and remove the front wheels.
2. The bushing are inside a metallic shell, holding the sway bar. You´ll need to remove the nuts and screws. You´ll requiere a 15 mm socket and other of 10 mm.
3. Remove the shell and then remove the lower nut of the sway bar link. Could be the nut attached to the strut or to the sway bar. You´ll require a 18 mm socket and WD40.
4. After this, you´ll be able to remove easily the bushing from the sway bar.
5. Re-install.
It´s not really hard, but you need to have some skills, and also, BE SURE THAT THE CAR IS LIFTED WITH STAND JACKS.
1. Jack the car on the front, and remove the front wheels.
2. The bushing are inside a metallic shell, holding the sway bar. You´ll need to remove the nuts and screws. You´ll requiere a 15 mm socket and other of 10 mm.
3. Remove the shell and then remove the lower nut of the sway bar link. Could be the nut attached to the strut or to the sway bar. You´ll require a 18 mm socket and WD40.
4. After this, you´ll be able to remove easily the bushing from the sway bar.
5. Re-install.
It´s not really hard, but you need to have some skills, and also, BE SURE THAT THE CAR IS LIFTED WITH STAND JACKS.
#7
sway bar bushings
I made an error. the bushings I had replacede were bought from energy suspensions part number 9.5161 universable-greaseable swaybar bushings in. / 25mm black grafite gty. 1 as they come as a pair $15.99 plus shipping.
Last edited by jay loukakis; 05-27-2011 at 07:18 PM. Reason: my HHR is a 2006 2lt, 2.4
#8
old thread but had the thunk. and did the sway bar links. ordered from moog..they were about an inch longer than the one I took off. no rubbing or clearance issues... so I left em in place.
Still have the clunking, but I did look at the sway bar bushing and they are shot at 40K...
so maybe later this week I'll get the bushings installed...
Still have the clunking, but I did look at the sway bar bushing and they are shot at 40K...
so maybe later this week I'll get the bushings installed...
#9
got the car up in the air and did the sway bar bushing. not sure how Alldata came up with a book time of 1.2 hours for both sides it was closer to two... and not really sure why the Gm dealership wanted to charge 275 bucks to replace them???
I will say if you have a twelve year old who can get their hands into tight places hire them...
it wasn't a difficult job, but a couple nuts you had to loosen 1/4 turn at a time... I guess I could have put a socket together that used 2-3 universal joints but somehow I figured I'd still end up busting knuckles and cussing the engineer at GM who decided that putting the sway bar above the frame was a good idea???
Oh well in any case...its done and the clunks have all but dissipated...
I will say if you have a twelve year old who can get their hands into tight places hire them...
it wasn't a difficult job, but a couple nuts you had to loosen 1/4 turn at a time... I guess I could have put a socket together that used 2-3 universal joints but somehow I figured I'd still end up busting knuckles and cussing the engineer at GM who decided that putting the sway bar above the frame was a good idea???
Oh well in any case...its done and the clunks have all but dissipated...
#10
got the car up in the air and did the sway bar bushing. not sure how Alldata came up with a book time of 1.2 hours for both sides it was closer to two... and not really sure why the Gm dealership wanted to charge 275 bucks to replace them???
I will say if you have a twelve year old who can get their hands into tight places hire them...
it wasn't a difficult job, but a couple nuts you had to loosen 1/4 turn at a time... I guess I could have put a socket together that used 2-3 universal joints but somehow I figured I'd still end up busting knuckles and cussing the engineer at GM who decided that putting the sway bar above the frame was a good idea???
Oh well in any case...its done and the clunks have all but dissipated...
I will say if you have a twelve year old who can get their hands into tight places hire them...
it wasn't a difficult job, but a couple nuts you had to loosen 1/4 turn at a time... I guess I could have put a socket together that used 2-3 universal joints but somehow I figured I'd still end up busting knuckles and cussing the engineer at GM who decided that putting the sway bar above the frame was a good idea???
Oh well in any case...its done and the clunks have all but dissipated...
You probably should send the 12" links back and get the "right" ones. 10" is the correct length, the parts books ASSume that all Cobalt parts interchange with HHR.